On June 2nd, community organizations, state and city representatives, as well as hundreds of citizens gathered for a joint press conference at 150 Central Street in Manhattan to strongly oppose the city government’s plan to spend nearly $3.8 billion to build the largest new prison at 125 White Street in Chinatown. They put forward an alternative proposal for a “win-win” solution: repurposing the site into affordable housing while exploring the reopening of the Metropolitan Detention Center (MCC) on Park Row as a transitional alternative facility.
However, some community representatives expressed to the Epoch Times their full support for converting the site into affordable housing but opposed the closure of Rikers Island prison, stating, “Chinatown should have no prisons whatsoever.”
The prison is one of the city government’s “Borough-Based Jails (BBJ)” projects, originally scheduled for completion in 2027 but now delayed until 2032, with the budget doubling from the initial $1.7 billion to nearly $3.8 billion. Construction contracts have been registered in May at the city’s Office of Management and Budget, and the construction firm Tutor Perini-O&G has already received a Notice to Proceed (NTP).
The New York City Department of Buildings stated that they will continue to work with the community and are planning a design public forum in June 2025. However, recent media reports suggest that Mayor Eric Adams is considering abandoning the closure of Rikers Island prison and converting some of the borough-based jails sites for housing development.
“We are not just here to protest today, we are here with an alternative proposal,” said Jan Lee, the co-founder of the Neighbors United Below Canal (NUBC) opposing the prison. He expressed concerns that the new prison, a 350-foot tall giant structure in the heart of Chinatown, could become the tallest prison in the world and may face delays, budget overruns, and even fail to achieve its original purpose.
Jan Lee and attending representatives voiced their support for a housing-centered vision, proposing the use of the 2-acre land for deeply affordable housing, senior residences, and green spaces, rather than a massive prison that would disrupt the community.
Councilman Christopher Marte, State Assemblywoman Grace Lee, and Evelyn Yang, wife of mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, attended the event, emphasizing that this is an opportunity for the city to build affordable housing in Chinatown. They urged the city to consider their alternative proposal, choosing a sensible and mutually beneficial way to address the community’s needs, as they face an out-of-control budget and an unreasonable timeline. The underlying sentiment was clear: “This $3.8 billion prison has no place here.”
As an alternative solution, Jan Lee and representatives suggested reopening the now-closed Metropolitan Detention Center (MCC) on Park Row in Chinatown.
Jan Lee pointed out that the current construction progress violates the law regarding the 2027 completion date set by the City Council and the prison being built does not meet the actual needs. He revealed that they are seeking assistance at the federal level, having already contacted Senator Chuck Schumer, who has been briefed and is beginning to engage with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to understand the current status of the MCC.
Jan Lee emphasized that the current situation “cannot wait any longer.” He and Assemblywoman Grace Lee have jointly submitted the alternative proposal to the city government for expedited review, calling it a more cost-effective and quicker option. With construction already in progress and soil samples being excavated, groundbreaking in the future is imminent. He also urged Mayor Adams to honor his commitment to “resolve the Chinatown prison issue.”
Chinatown community members lauded the proposal to transform the existing prison construction plan into affordable housing but had differing opinions on whether to reopen the MCC as an alternative prison. They expressed a desire for the federal government to improve Rikers Island prison’s capacity to accommodate the 7,000 inmates and meet with the community’s demand for “no large prisons.”
A statement from Yu Jinshan, the Democratic 65D community leader, voiced, “We strongly oppose the reopening of the currently closed MCC on Park Row by the city as a detention center, homeless shelter, or a mental health treatment center, as it would raise safety concerns for residents of Chatham Towers, Chatham Green, Confucius Plaza, and Chinatown.” He strongly recommended that the City Council withdraw the decision to close Rikers Island prison.
Co-chair of the Greater Chinatown Civil Rights Alliance, Chen Jianshan, in an interview with the Epoch Times, highlighted legal and practical challenges in the proposal to transfer the MCC to city use. He pointed out that as federal property, the New York City government faces difficulty obtaining permission for its use. Moreover, the original design of the MCC only accommodates 450 people, falling significantly below the current demand.
He argued that the combined capacity of the four planned prisons in the city center would only house around 4,000 inmates, while the population at Rikers Island exceeds 7,000. Even with early release of some inmates, the problem cannot be fundamentally solved. Chen Jianshan proposed that instead of building new prisons in the city, the federal government should take over and upgrade Rikers Island into a modernized facility, addressing issues of abuse and eliminating the need for a prison in Chinatown, leading to the ideal outcome of no prisons in Chinatown and increased affordable housing.